Seventy total points in a preseason game? An offensive explosion?
Without starting quarterback Deshaun Watson and numerous other starters, the Cleveland Browns dropped their third and final preseason game Saturday night into Sunday morning in Seattle 37-33, but there was no shortage of offense.
Cleveland was led offensively by quarterback Tyler Huntely, who finished the contest with 146 passing yards and three touchdowns. Not only did rookie wide receiver Jamari Thrash record a team-high 73 receiving yards Saturday night, but he also led the Browns in receiving throughout the preseason.
Browns quarterback Jameis Winston and Cleveland's first offensive possession didn't quite go as planned.
Winston failed to connect with wideout Elijah Moore, got a pass deflected at the line of scrimmage, nearly threw an interception and was finally sacked to force a Browns punt. Running back Jerome Ford was penalized for a chop block in the backfield during the possession too.
The Seahawks offense had no problems though. Led by starting quarterback Geno Smith, Seattle marched down the field, spanning five plays and 62 yards. The drive was boosted by a 25-yard catch from wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba over cornerback Cameron Mitchell and a touchdown grab by DK Metcalf over corner Justin Hardee Sr.
On Cleveland's second possession, Winston connected with Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman three times, totaling 48 yards. In the red zone, the Browns offense stalled, resulting in an incomplete pass on 4th down and two from the Seahawks 12-yard line.
The Browns finally got on the board with 13:12 left in the second quarter off the leg of kicker Dustin Hopkins. Hopkins put through a 37-yard field goal, his first attempt of the preseason, cutting the Browns deficit to 7-3.
But the Seahawks had a response of their own. Seattle running back Kenny McIntosh broke free and took the ball 56 yards through the Browns defense for a touchdown, stiff-arming Cleveland safety Chase Williams along the way. The Seahawks took a 14-3 lead with 11:42 left before the half.
